Electric chime system



-Z 4 J. s. ZUCKERMAN v 2,431,737

ELECTRIC CHIME SYSTEM Filed Feb. 1, 1947 I7? U)? 2 0?" flaw (7% 5 I Z uc/i'ermai? a; RM L M Patented Dec. 2, 1947 ELECTRIC CHIME SYSTEM Joseph S. Zuckerman,

Mell-O-Chime and Chicago, Ill., assignor to Signal Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 1, 1947, Serial No. 725,768

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an electrical apparatus and particularly to a signal system. The invention has particular application to a chime sysem wherein a plurality of chimes are successively sounded upon energization of a push-button to initiate a chime-sounding cycle.

In chime systems, a series of chimes sounded upon the pressing of a push-button is well known. In such systems, the chime-sounding cycle usually takes an appreciable time and, during such time, the push-button or control switch is inoperative for establishing a new chime cycle. This invention provides a chime system wherein a push-button or control switch is sensitive to a second operation prior to the termination of a chime cycle whereby a second chime cycle may be established. Thus, an operator desiring to establish two successive chime cycles may press the button twice with substantially no time delay necessary between successive button operations. Furthermore, in prior art systems, closure of the push-button for an appreciable time has been necessary for initiating a chime cycle, This invention provides a system whereby momentary operation of the push-button will sufilce to initiate a cycle.

The single figure shown in the drawing shows a circuit diagram ofa system embodying the present invention.

A conventional 110 volt, 60 cycle line indicated by numeral I is connected to primary H of transformer I2. Transformer l2 has secondary 3 for energizing the chime system embodying the present invention. Transformer secondary 13. has terminals 14 and 15. From terminal M, a lead goes through terminal I6 to one terminal of motor ll. Motor I! is. any suitable electric motor and preferably is of the self-starting synchronous type used inelectric clocks and similar devices. Motor I! has its other terminal connected to junction l9. Motor I1 drives wiper 20 in the direction indicated, the. wiper being rotatably secured in any suitable fashion and adapted to play over contacts as shown. Elongated contact 2| for controlling motor I! is provided and subtends almost 360 degrees of arc, the open ends having gap 22 therebetween.. Contact 2! is connected by lead 23 to junction l9.

Wiper 25] also cooperates with contact points 25 to 32 inclusive. The number and angular spacing of contact points ma vary, depending upon the number and timing of chime strikes to a complete operating cycle. It is understood,- of course, that a chime cycle may have, for example, seven strikes as shown here and utilize seven or more or less dificrent chimes.

Contact point 25 is connected by lead 35 to winding 36 of relay 31. Winding 36 has its other terminal connected by lead 38 to junction point 39 and thence, b lead 410, back to terminal l4, Junction points 26 to 32 inclusive are connected by leads 4| to 4! inclusive to a series of chimes, here shown as seven in number, 458 to 5d inclusive. It is evident that any one or more of the chimes may be omitted to leave one or more chimes and that the contact points may be connected to the remaining chimes in any desired order to obtain any desired chime sequence. The chimes are connected to common return going to junction 39.

Relay 3 1 has armature 56 of the general shape of a bell crank lever pivoted at 51. Armature 56 carries movable contact arm (it! maintained in one of two stable positions by spring ill extending between arm Bil and stationary point 62.

Arm 60 is connected by lead 63 to junction 64. Junction 64 is on Wire 65 extending between terminal l5 and wiper 20. Terminal [5 is connected by wire 66 to winding 6! of rela 37. Winding 61 has its other terminal connected by wire 68 to push-button 10 and thence, by wire ll to junction [6. Fixed contact (2 of the relay is connected by wire 13 to junction l9.

The operation of the system is as follows: Motor l1 driving wiper 20 will have a normal rest position, as shown, with wiper 20 disposed in gap 22 and free of all contacts. Upon pressing button 10, a circuit is established from terminal [4 to junction l6, through wire ll, button ill, wire 68, winding 61, wire 66 to terminal l5. Thus, winding 61 of relay 3! will be energized and pull armature 56 to a position where the armature is disposed against the core of winding Bl. Arm- 60, which functions as a movable contact, thereupon cooperates with fixed contact 12 to close a. circuit for motor 11. Thus, the motor circuit may be traced, from terminal it to junction is, through the motor, to junction I9, wire 73 to fixed contact point 12, movable contact arm 6!), wire 63 to junction 64 and thence, by lead 65, to terminal l5. Motor I! will thereupon rotate, the motor being so designed that wiper 29 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as seen in the drawing.

Upon rotation of wiper 2!], electrical contact between the wiper and elongated contact member 2| is quickly established. When this occurs, a shunt circuit around the relay contacts is established. Thus, this shunt circuit may be traced Irom j nction 19 to contact 2i, wiper 20 to junction 64. It will be apparent that motor I! will continue to be energized irrespective of the position of relay 3'! as long as wiper 20 bears upon contact 2 l.

When wiper 20 reaches contact point 25, a circuit is established for energizing winding 36 of the relay to cause the same to return to its normal position as shown in the drawing. This circuit may be traced as follows: from terminal [4 and wire it to junction point 39, thence along wire 38 to winding 38, then along wire 35 to junction point 25, thence to wiper 29 and wire 55 to terminal l5. It will be apparent that energization of winding 35 of the relay is only momentar and, after wiper 28 passes contact point 25, relay 3'! is in condition to be actuated again by button H! as described above. Motor l1 continues to turn wiper 29 once the cycle has been started. Wiper 20 first encounters contact point 26 and completes a chime-energizing circuit which may be traced as follows: from terminal 15, wire 65, wiper 26 to contact point 25, wire ll to chime 48, common return 55 to junction 39. From junction 39, the circuit continues through wire 49 back to terminal M.

As wiper 2t continues to move, it passes from contact point 26 to contact point 21. Thus, a chime-energizing circuit for chime 49 will be established, this circuit being similar to the circuit described for chime 48. Contact point 28 is next encountered and, thus, chime 58 may be energized. If desired, lead 44 may be connected back to lead 42 so that chime 48 is sounded again. It will be evident that, as wiper 20 progresses around the series of contact points, a chime-actuating cycle will occur. When wiper 20 has passed the last chime contact point, here shown as 32, further movement of the wiper brings it to the position shown where the wiper clears contact 2| and lies in insulating region 22. When this occurs, motor I! will stop unless the relay is in its closed position.

The motor turns wiper 20 at a uniform rate. In practice, wiper 20 may make a complete revolution in one-half minute or any other time, depending upon the number of chime energizations to a complete cycle. In some instances, it may be desired to have unequal time intervals between chimes. This may be accomplished by controlling the angular spacing between chime contact points.

While the invention is shown as controlling a series of chimes, it will be evident that other devices may be controlled to establish any desired sequence of operation.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for providing a sequence of operations such as energizations of chimes during a cycle, said system comprising the following: system terminals adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current, an electric motor, a wiper coupled to said motor for rotary motion, a group of contacts for cooperation with said wiper during its rotation, a first group contact being generally circular and having an insulating gap between the ends thereof, said contact and insulating gap together sub-tending 360 degrees of arc, said Wiper having a normal rest position in said insulating gap free of all contacts, connections for disposing said motor circular contact and wiper in series across said terminals, a two position relay having at least one winding and having a movable and fixed contact, connections providing a circuit including said relay contacts in shunt 2 0.195 .31

wiper and circular contact, a normally open switch, connections disposing said switch and relay winding in series across said system terminals, a second group contact point for said wiper in the path of Wiper travel and adapted to be touched by said wiper when said wiper bears on said circular contact, a circuit connected to said wiper and said second contact, said circuit having means for moving said relay to its open position when said wiper touches said second group contact, additional group contact points disposed in the wiper path and touched thereby when said wiper touches said circular contact, and circuits connected to said additional group contacts for energization during wiper travel, said relay being moved to a closed position upon switch closure to start said motor and cause said wiper to move and engage said circular contact, said relay being moved to an open position when said wiper passes said second group contact whereby said system may be conditioned for a new cycle by closure of said switch prior to the termination of a preceding cycle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said relay has an additional winding adapted to move said relay to an open position when energized and wherein said additional winding is in the circuit with said second group contact.

3. A system for initiating and providing a cycle of chime energizations, said system comprising a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a source of alternating current, an electric motor, a wiper coupled to said motor for rotation, a group of contacts cooperating with said wiper, the first group contact being generally circular and having an insultating gap between the ends with said circular contact and gap together subtending 360 degrees of arc, said wiper having a normal rest position on said insulating gap free of all contacts, connections disposing said motor, circular contact and wiper in series across said terminals, a relay having two windings and having a movable and fixed contact, said relay having stable open and closed positions, connections disposing said two relay contacts across the wiper and circular contact, a normally open switch, connections disposing said switch and the one winding for moving said relay to a closed position in series across said terminals, a second group contact point disposed in the path of wiper travel and so positioned as to be at the beginning of that portion of the wiper path when said Wiper bears upon said circular contact, connections between said second group contact and the remaining relay winding for energizing said remaining relay Winding when said wiper touches said second group contact thereby to open said relay, said group of contacts including additional group contact points disposed in the path of wiper travel after said wiper has reached said circular contact, a plurality of chimes and connections between said additional contacts and said chimes for energizing said chimes when said wiper passes said additional contacts, said switch being adapted to be closed momentarily for closing said relay and starting said motor to move said wiper from the insulating gap and on to the circular contact and said relay being adapted to be opened when said wiper passes said second group contact point whereby said switch may be closed again to dispose said relay in a closed position for initiating a succeeding cycle at any time after the wiper has passed said second group contact.

' JOSEPH s. ZUCKER-MAN. 

